Fanfiction as both David and Goliath

A newsarticle in the Guardian states "those pushing for 'solutions' to piracy risk eroding the net's integrity and freedom from surveillance, censorship and control" which complements Lessig's ideas of the costs of this war to innovation and creativity.

These aspects are crucial to make sure that Fanfiction thrive as a free culture. If using characters and events are considered as piracy, their motto of "unleash you imagination", becomes a call for illegality. Fanfiction does feel the tension of these copyright wars and picks both sides.

FANFICTION AS DAVID

In issues with original writers they are the Davids in the war. Fanfiction writers fight to craft as an amateur remix with parts of their favourite characters and stories, as incentitives and encouragement for alternative sketching in the existing plots.

They do not want to be illegal by doing that. I think they try to find the balance by citing their inspiration and never bluntly copying but being creative with it. There is also the commercial idea that give an idea of legitimate free reuse, because fans buy, support (by creating a fandom) and pay for the content.

FANFICTION AS GOLIATH

But, Fanfiction writers do want to be known for what they do too. If copyright is not important as Lessig says, then how can anyone live of its pen or creativity? By diminishing intellectual property to an suppressive role, it gives another type of boundary to creativity, by devaluing work, time and originality.

Therefore, in being Goliath in the copyright wars Fanfiction has his weapons too. The Kindle Worlds platform makes people pay to read Fanfiction. Professional work should be continued to be regulated in the traditional manner says Lessig, and that makes sense in balancing the copyright wars, to keep the peace and to enjoy without an unfair fight.

#Week6 #Informalwritingresponse #Lessig #Copyrightwars #Copyright #Fanfiction